The Do’s and Don’ts of Being an Unsigned Artist

Every big band and artist has been there – the unsigned years. But as an unsigned artist, you can take comfort in the fact that everyone from Nirvana to the Arctic Monkeys had the same humble beginnings. But, while you’re living the life of the little guy/gal of music, what should you be doing to make sure that you can one day join the ranks of all your favourite bands? Read on for some of our best do’s and dont’s for the unsigned artist.

DO Be Sociable

One of the best ways to get your name out there is by making sure that you’re taking every networking opportunity you can. Whether it’s by chatting to venue owners when you play gigs, or by getting social on social media, you need to make sure you have a voice. You never know what opportunities you may find just by talking to the right people.

DON’T Be a Spammer

Being chatty on social media and in real life is great, but make sure you don’t step over the line between friendly and annoying. It’s important that you’re contacting the right people to get gigs and send out your music to, but you don’t want to start spamming people. The people you want to take notice of you won’t respond to spam – steer clear of it!

DO Make Your Music Available

Building a fan base is hugely important for musicians who are just starting out, and the only way of doing this is by making sure they hear your music. Sure, playing live gigs is essential, but you’ll need to make sure they can find your music once the gig is over. It’s a good idea to allow fans to listen to some of your music for free – get it on YouTube, Spotify, SoundCloud and any other music streaming sites.

DON’T Be Put Off by Criticism

Everyone is a critic, and every musician will take a fair bit of flack over the course of their career. It’s easy to take this criticism to heart and to be put off by it, but don’t take it too seriously. Unpleasant YouTube comments are just a workplace hazard for any artist, and most of them will come from ‘trolls’ who make a career out of giving artists a hard time.

Here at VDC Group, we understand that unsigned artists need cost-efficient options when it comes to promoting their music, which is why we’re here to provide our support with CD Replication and DVD services. So, when you’re looking for the best way to get your sound heard, make sure you contact us by calling 0208 963 3555 to speak to a member of our friendly team.